Whistle Down the Wind: Andrew Lloyd Webber's Rock Musical

Jedlicka Performing Arts Center brings to the stage Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock musical Whistle Down the Wind. Based on the novel and the film of the same name, this stage iteration follows the fortunes of a fugitive caught between the prejudice of adults and the innocence of youth. Swallow is a 15 year-old-girl growing up in America's Deep South in the late 1950s. When she discovers a mysterious man hiding out in a barn, she asks who he is and the first words he utters are "Jesus Christ." It's as if all her prayers have been answered. Swallow and the town's other children vow to protect the stranger from the world that waits outside -- townspeople who are determined to catch a fugitive hiding in their midst. As fantasy and reality collide, Swallow begins to discover who she is and where she's going in life. Webber's score combines hauntingly beautiful love songs and explosive rock music.

Reviews & Ratings

Featured review from Goldstarfan

Jedlicka was a nice venue to watch "Whistle Down the Wind". The venue is inside Morton College in Cicero. The seats have desk tops that roll up or down, so it's kind of nice to have something flat for purses and such if you happen to not have anyone sitting next to you. Seats were comfortable enough, and very close to the stage. Goldstar.com continues to give us great seats. This time we were only slightly left of the center, and about 4 rows from the front. The cast was very talented, striking me as a good, community theatre group. Even the kids sang well, and their acting was pretty good or better as far as kids go. The guy playing "Jesus" sang well and his acting was good. Jedlicka also had a live orchestra playing everything, and I was quite impressed to have that benefit in a community performance. I would go back to one of their shows in the future, and we're seriously considering their subscriber packages. Be aware that restrooms are rather cramped, with the ceiling sloping down on the men's facility. Parking is plentiful, if you park in the employee parking also (the visitor lot was full one hour before the performance).

Location was convenient and quaint. Performance was mediocre; lead characters were very good but others not up to par. This may have been the 1st performance in front of an audience but they were unexcited and flat. I would go to this venue again...continued

This is a very difficult show, and rarely done, and the production was very well directed. The music, by professionals was excellent, and the lead actors all could sing, a very challenging score, and act. The children were delightful. A rare...continued

Description

About the Ticket Supplier: Jedlicka Performing Arts Center

The Jedlicka Performing Arts Center (at Morton College) is in its 32nd season of producing an affordable lineup of outstanding plays and musicals just outside the Chicago city limits. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Dante Orfei, JPAC provides a varied season of 3 plays and 3 musicals to over 6,000 patrons a year including over 300 subscribers. JPAC is committed to high production values and low prices and has become known for Chicago premieres of new and rarely produced work and for lavish productions of large-scale Broadway musicals under the auspices of a highly credentialed college faculty.